There was tension at Egbu Road-Owerri, Imo State capital as a couple, identified as Mr and Mrs Sampson Owobo, were shot dead by gunmen on Sunday.
The man, according to reports, was a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police.
It was gathered that the gunmen around 8 pm caused mayhem around the Owerri Area police command office which also houses the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters.
Business owners and residents were said to have shut all entries leading to their apartments and shops and ran away.
Speaking anonymously, an eyewitness disclosed that the couple, who had a Point Of Sale business in the area were protecting their bag containing an unidentified amount of money when the incident happened.
The witness said the gunmen, who escaped in a vehicle, shot the retired ASP a close range at his forehead, close to his eyes and shot his wife at her left-hand side, close to her chest at a closed range when the three-man gang could not succeed in snatching the bag of money.
The husband was said to have died on the spot while the wife was pronounced dead at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
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He said, “Three armed men just killed a husband and his wife. This incident happened close to the Chisco Transport company office which is very close to Owerri Police Area command headquarters and Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters, at the fire Service on Egbu Road-Owerri.
“The armed robbers were carrying pump action riffles and were trying to carry a bag containing money. The husband and wife run a POS business and also sell loaves of bread. When they could not succeed in carrying the bag of money, they shot the couple on closed ranges.
“They shot the man on a closed range at his forehead, closed to his eyes. They shot his wife on a close range too, at her left-hand side, very close to her chest. While the man died immediately, his wife who was bleeding profusely was pronounced dead at FMC-Owerri.
“The man’s name is Sampson Owobo. He hailed from Edo State. He is a retired police officer. He retired with the rank of ASP. He retired about five years ago or so.
“The armed robbers fled and haven’t been caught. This is so bad. This crime happened very close to the Owerri fire service police area command headquarters and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye, confirmed the murder of the couple and disclosed that the police in the state were on the trail of the fleeing suspects.
“The murder of the couple is highly condemnable. The CP frowns at the killing of the couple and he has immediately ordered an investigation into their killings with the mandate to apprehend the fleeing criminals.” Okoye said.